Hat in the Pink for mares event Patrick Mullins is expecting a big run from Pink Hat in the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Mares Maiden Hurdle. The amateur rider son of Willie Mullins steered the six-year-old to two bumper victories and was in the plate when she was second to Theatre Bird on her jumps debut at Clonmel early last month. As the form of that race received a boost when the winner landed a Grade Three mares event at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, Mullins is positive about the chances of Pink Hat, who is trained by his father and owned by his mother. He said: "Her form from Clonmel was franked very well with Theatre Bird going on to win the Grade Three at Leopardstown, and we were giving her 8lb that day. "She's dropping back to two miles now and I don't think that's a problem. Elsie looks our danger but we'd be hopeful of a very good run and certainly wouldn't be surprised if she won." Elsie is trained by Patrick's uncle, Tom Mullins, while another with a chance is Harry Kelly's runner Railway Zira. This dual bumper scorer was fifth on her hurdles bow at Listowel in September. "She's back and she's fit and she's well. She'll handle the ground, but we're a little bit worried that the trip will be too short for her. She's there with her chance, though," said Kelly.
